U.S. patent application number 12/199310 was filed with the patent office on 2010-03-04 for video test process integrated in a set-top-box.
This patent application is currently assigned to VERIZON BUSINESS NETWORK SERVICES INC.. Invention is credited to David Taiyung KAO, Colum H. KIRK.
Application Number | 20100053337 12/199310 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41724784 |
Filed Date | 2010-03-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100053337 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIRK; Colum H. ; et
al. |
March 4, 2010 |
VIDEO TEST PROCESS INTEGRATED IN A SET-TOP-BOX
Abstract
A device, such as a set-top box, may include logic to allow
television customers to automatically test and adjust the quality
of the displayed video signal. A set-top box may receive a user
selection of whether to perform a video test using an automatic
loopback test sequence or a user subjective test sequence. The
set-top box may perform, when the automatic loopback test sequence
is selected, a video quality test that may include transmitting a
signal from the set-top box, receiving a loopback version of the
video signal, and comparing the received loopback version of the
video signal to the transmitted signal. The set-top box may
perform, when the user subjective test sequence is selected, a
video quality test that may include displaying one or more test
patterns to a user and receiving feedback from the user relating to
a quality of the displayed test patterns.
Inventors: |
KIRK; Colum H.; (Chantilly,
VA) ; KAO; David Taiyung; (Ashburn, VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VERIZON;PATENT MANAGEMENT GROUP
1320 North Court House Road, 9th Floor
ARLINGTON
VA
22201-2909
US
|
Assignee: |
VERIZON BUSINESS NETWORK SERVICES
INC.
Ashburn
VA
|
Family ID: |
41724784 |
Appl. No.: |
12/199310 |
Filed: |
August 27, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
348/181 ;
348/E17.001 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 17/004 20130101;
H04N 17/045 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/181 ;
348/E17.001 |
International
Class: |
H04N 17/00 20060101
H04N017/00 |
Claims
1. A device comprising: a video output port; a video input port;
one or more processors; and a computer readable medium coupled to
the one or more processors, the computer readable medium storing
programming instructions for execution by the one or more
processors, the programming instructions including: instructions
for generating a television signal suitable for display by a
television device; instructions for outputting the television
signal at the video output port; instructions for receiving a
loopback version of the television signal after processing by one
or more external audio or video devices; instructions for testing
the quality of the loopback version of the television signal; and
instructions for displaying a result of the test of the loopback
version of the television signal.
2. The device of claim 1, where the result is displayed via the
television signal that is displayed by the television device.
3. The device of claim 1, where the device is a set-top box.
4. The device of claim 1, where testing the quality of the loopback
signal includes comparing the loopback version of the television
signal to the output television signal.
5. The device of claim 1, where the instructions for generating the
television signal further include: instructions for generating the
television signal as one or more video test patterns.
6. The device of claim 1, where the programming instructions
further include: instructions to, based on results of the testing,
automatically adjust video output parameters of the device or the
one or more external audio or video devices.
7. The device of claim 1, where the programming instructions
further include: instructions for receiving feedback from a user
relating to the quality of the output television signal.
8. The device of claim 7, where the programming instructions
further include: instructions for determining a quality of the
output television signal based on the feedback received from the
user; and instructions for displaying a result of the determined
quality.
9. The device of claim 1, the programming instructions further
including: instructions to query a user to obtain types of external
audio or video devices that are in use.
10. The device of claim 9, the programming instructions further
including: instructions to, based on the obtained type of external
audio or video devices, provide directions to the user relating to
setting up a connection between the device and the one or more
external audio or video devices.
11. A method comprising: receiving, at a set-top box, a user
selection of whether to perform a video test using an automatic
loopback test sequence or a user subjective test sequence;
performing, when the automatic loopback test sequence is selected,
a video quality test that includes transmitting a signal from the
set-top box, receiving a loopback version of the video signal, and
comparing the received loopback version of the video signal to the
transmitted signal; and performing, when the user subjective test
sequence is selected, a video quality test that includes displaying
one or more test patterns to a user and receiving feedback from the
user relating to a quality of the displayed test patterns.
12. The method of claim 11, where the test patterns are displayed
on a television after transmission by the set-top box through one
or more external audio/video devices.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising: displaying, via a
television coupled to the set-top box, results of the automatic
loopback test sequence or the user subjective test sequence.
14. The method of claim 11, where transmitting the signal from the
set-top box includes transmitting one or more video test
patterns.
15. The method of claim 11, further comprising: automatically
adjusting, based on results of the test using the automatic
loopback test sequence or the user subjective test sequence, video
output parameters of the set-top box.
16. The method of claim 11, further comprising: adjusting, based on
results of the test using the automatic loopback test sequence or
the user subjective test sequence, video output parameters of one
or more external audio/video devices coupled to the set-top
box.
17. The method of claim 11, further comprising: querying a user to
obtain types of external audio/video devices coupled to the set-top
box.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: providing, based on
the obtained types of external audio/video devices, directions to
the user relating to setting up connections between the set-top box
and the one or more external audio/video devices.
19. A device for providing video signals to one or more audio/video
devices, the device comprising: a video output port; a video input
port; and a control unit to generate one or more test patterns for
output to the one or more audio/video devices, receive a loopback
version of the test patterns after processing by one or more
audio/video devices, and compare the loopback version of the test
patterns to the generated test patterns to obtain results relating
to video quality after processing by the one or more audio/video
devices.
20. The device of claim 19, where the device is a set-top box.
21. The device of claim 19, where the control unit is further
configured to: receive feedback from a user relating to the quality
of the test patterns as displayed by the one or more audio/video
devices.
22. The device of claim 21, where the control unit is further
configured to: determine a quality of the test patterns displayed
by the one or more audio/video devices; and display a result of the
determined quality.
Description
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[0001] In an increasingly digitally connected world,
telecommunication services play a crucial role in the daily
operation of businesses and in consumers' lives. Telecommunication
services commonly used by both businesses and consumers include
telephone, network (e.g., Internet) connectivity, and television.
These services are typically provided to the customer premises by a
telecommunication provider through one or more wired or wireless
connections.
[0002] Television, in particular, is one service that may be
provided to consumers. Typically, incoming television signals are
received by a signal processing device, such as a set-top-box (STB)
or television tuner card, before being forwarded to the consumer's
audio/video equipment. It is, of course, desirable that the quality
of the signal output on the final consumer device (e.g., an HDTV)
is as high as possible given the audio/video equipment being used
by the consumer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary system in which concepts
described herein may be implemented;
[0004] FIG. 2 is diagram illustrating exemplary components relating
to a television and set-top box in additional detail;
[0005] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary implementation
of a processing device, such as one of the devices shown in FIGS. 1
and 2;
[0006] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary operations for
allowing television consumers to automatically test and potentially
adjust the quality of a received video signal; and
[0007] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating exemplary audio/video
equipment for which a set-top box may perform automatic loopback
testing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0008] The following detailed description of exemplary embodiments
refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in
different drawings may identify the same or similar elements. Also,
the following detailed description does not limit the
invention.
[0009] Implementations described herein allow television consumers
to automatically test and adjust the quality of a received video
signal. In one implementation, a set-top box provides automatic
video loopback testing to potentially fine tune the video signal
seen by the consumer. Additionally, in some implementations, the
set-top box may also provide testing patterns that the consumer can
use to subjectively evaluate and adjust the quality of the video
signal. The video testing processes described herein may be
particularly useful in situations in which the consumer connects
additional audio/video equipment to the set-top box.
[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary system 100 in which
concepts described herein may be implemented. As illustrated,
system 100 may include a network 110 that connects one or more
server devices 120 to a consumer/customer premises 130. In general,
server devices 120 may provide or control, via network 110,
telecommunication services such as telephone, television, and/or
network connectivity (e.g., Internet) to customer premises 130.
[0011] Network 110 may include a Local Area Network (LAN), a wide
area network (WAN), such as a cellular network, a satellite
network, a broadcast television based network, the Internet, a
private WAN, or a combination of the Internet and a private WAN,
that is used to transport data. Although shown as a single element
in FIG. 1, network 110 may include a number of separate networks
that function to provide services to customer premises 130. In one
implementation, network 110 may terminate at customer premises 130
via an optical communication link, such as an optical fiber to the
customer premises. In another possible implementation, network 110
may terminate at customer premises 130 via a coaxial cable or other
types of wired mechanisms. In yet another possible implementation,
network 110 may represent over-the-air television broadcast
channels that provides content to customer premises wirelessly.
[0012] Server devices 120 may include servers or other network
devices used to deliver or control delivery of the
telecommunication services to customer premises 130. For example,
server devices 120 may include web servers, network switches or
routers, television broadcast facilities. etc.
[0013] Customer premises 130 may include a number of electronic
devices, such as computing device 135, telephone 140, and
television 145. Customer premises 130 may additionally include
devices that provide an interface to personal computer 135,
telephone 140, and television 145, such as a local gateway 150 and
a set-top box (STB) 155.
[0014] Computing device 135 may include, for example, a personal
computer, such as desktop, laptop computer, personal digital
assistant (PDA), etc., used for general computing tasks.
[0015] Telephone 140 may include standard analog phones or VoIP
(voice over IP) phones. As a VoIP phone, telephone 140 may be a
stand-alone telephone capable of initiating VoIP calls over network
110 or a "soft-phone" that is implemented as software on computing
device 135.
[0016] Television 145 may include a digital or analog television
through which a user may watch programming. For example, television
145 may include a high-definition television (HDTV) set.
[0017] Gateway 150 may include a network device that provides an
interface from network 110 to personal computer 135, telephone 140,
and television 145. For example, when telecommunication services
are provided to customer premises 130 via optical fiber, gateway
150 may include an optical network terminal (ONT) to connect to the
optical fiber. The ONT may convert between signals appropriate for
devices 135/140/145/155 and signals appropriate for transmission
over optical fiber. For example, the ONT may include an Ethernet
output port that connects to personal computer 135, a VoIP
telephone 140, a standard telephone port for connecting to a
standard telephone 140, and/or a coaxial cable that connects to
television 145 or STB 155.
[0018] STB 155 may include a device for selecting and/or obtaining
content that may be shown or played on television 145. STB 155 may
receive a television signal from gateway 150, convert the signal to
a form usable by television 145, and transmit the signal to
television 145 for display. STB 155 may receive commands, such as
commands transmitted via a remote control, and control television
145 accordingly. STB 155 may also be capable of sending data to
server devices 120. For example, users may use a remote control or
wireless keyboard to interact with STB 155 and television 145 in an
interactive session.
[0019] In general, customer premises 130 may be either a
residential or business location. Additionally, although only a
single personal computer 135, telephone 140, and television 145 are
shown in FIG. 1, it can be appreciated that any particular customer
premises 130 may have any number (including none) of any of these
devices. Further, although a single customer premises 130 is shown
in FIG. 1, servers devices 120 may typically interact with many
customer premises.
[0020] FIG. 2 is diagram illustrating exemplary components relating
to television 145 and STB 155 in additional detail. In FIG. 2,
television 145 and STB 155 are additionally illustrated as being
connected through one or more audio/video (AV) devices 210. AV
devices 210 may include one or more of, for example, audio/video
receivers, video amplifiers, video switches, videocassette
recorders (VCRs), or digital video disc (DVD) players. In general,
AV devices 210 may represent any audio or video equipment that a
customer installs to provide additional audio/video capabilities or
to enhance the capabilities of existing equipment.
[0021] In FIG. 2, gateway 150 is more particularly shown as
including one of a number of possible gateway devices, including
satellite antenna 251, coaxial cable connection 252, ONT 253, or
broadband access for Internet protocol TV (IPTV) 254. Satellite
antenna and receiver 251 may provide an interface for television
service broadcast from satellites. Coaxial cable connection 252 may
provide an interface for television service connected to a consumer
via coaxial cables. ONT 253 may provide an interface for an optical
fiber connection. Broadband IPTV access 254 may generally include
any device that provides broadband access over which television
service may be provided.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary implementation
of a processing device 300, such as one of server 120, computing
device 135, STB 155, local gateway 150, or AV devices 210.
Processing device 300 may include control unit 310, memory 320,
display 330, network connection 340, and input/output (I/O) device
350.
[0023] Control unit 310 may include a processor, microprocessor, or
other type of processing logic that may interpret and execute
instructions. Memory 320 may include a dynamic or static storage
device that may store information and instructions for execution by
control unit 310. For example, memory 320 may include a storing
component, such as a random access memory (RAM), a dynamic random
access memory (DRAM), a static random access memory (SRAM), a
synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), a ferroelectric
random access memory (FRAM), a read only memory (ROM), a
programmable read only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read
only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read
only memory (EEPROM), and/or a flash memory.
[0024] Display 330 may include any component capable of providing
visual information. For example, in one implementation, display 330
may be a liquid crystal display (LCD). In another implementation,
display 330 may be any one of other display technologies, such as a
plasma display panel (PDP), a field emission display (FED), a thin
film transistor (TFT) display, etc. Display 330 may display, for
example, text, image, and/or video information. Display 330 may be
an optional component. In some implementations of device 300, such
as when device 300 represents server devices 120 or gateway 150, a
display may not be used.
[0025] Network connection 340 may include any transceiver-like
mechanism that enables device 300 to communicate with other devices
and/or systems. For example, network connection 340 may include an
Ethernet interface, an optical interface, a coaxial interface, a
radio interface, or the like. Network connection 340 may allow for
wired, wireless, and/or optical communication. Network connection
340 may be particularly configured to connect device 300 to a
packet-based IP network.
[0026] Input/output devices 350 may generally include user input
devices such as external buttons, a keyboard or mouse and output
devices such as a printer. With input/output devices 350, a user
may generally interact with device 300. In some implementations,
device 300 may be a "headless" device, in which case input/output
devices 350 (and display 330) may be absent. When device 300 is a
device as such set-top box 155, input/output device 350 may
particularly be implemented as a remote control.
[0027] As will be described in detail below, device 300 may perform
certain operations relating to testing of audio/video equipment. In
this situation, device 300 may particularly represent STB 155.
Device 300 may perform these operations in response to control unit
310 executing software instructions contained in a
computer-readable medium, such as memory 320. A computer-readable
medium may be defined as a physical or logical memory device.
[0028] The software instructions may be read into memory 320 from
another computer-readable medium or from another device. The
software instructions contained in memory 320 may cause control
unit 310 to perform processes that will be described later.
Alternatively, hardwired circuitry may be used in place of or in
combination with software instructions to implement processes
described herein. Thus, implementations described herein are not
limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and
software.
[0029] Although FIG. 3 illustrates exemplary components of device
300, in other implementations, device 300 may include fewer,
additional, and/or different components than those depicted in FIG.
3. In still other implementations, one or more components of device
300 may perform one or more other tasks described as being
performed by one or more other components of device 300.
[0030] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary operations for
allowing a consumer/customer to automatically test and potentially
adjust the quality of a received video signal.
[0031] At some point, a user may decide to test and/or adjust the
quality of his/her video signal, such as the quality of the signal
output/displayed on television 145. For example, a consumer may,
for instance, when initially setting up an audio/video system or
when adding equipment to an audio/video system, decide to test the
system. As described herein, STB 155 may assist a customer in
testing or adjusting the video signal received on television
145.
[0032] When desired, the user may initiate a video test sequence
(block 410). The user may initiate the video test sequence by, for
example, selecting a video test option via an interface provided by
STB 155 and displayed on television 145.
[0033] In one implementation, STB 155 may provide multiple
different video test techniques from which the user may choose. For
example, as shown in FIG. 4, STB 155 may be configured to implement
both an automatic test sequence based on a video loopback feed
(blocks 430, 440, and 450) or a user subjective test sequence based
on the display of video patterns (blocks 460, 470, 480, and 490).
STB 155 may allow the user to decide which of these sequences to
implement (block 420).
[0034] Assume that, in block 420, the user selects the automatic
test sequence. In some implementations, STB 155 may initially
gather information about the audio/video equipment involved in the
user's setup (block 430). For instance, the interface provided by
STB 155 may ask the user to enter the make and model of some or all
of the user's equipment. STB 155 may query one or more of servers
120 to potentially download information relating to the equipment
entered by the user. STB 155 may use this information in
determining how to perform the automatic loopback testing. The user
may need to adjust the connections of the AV equipment to obtain a
loopback connection with the STB. STB 155 may also guide or prompt
the user in setting up the loopback connection (block 430). For
example, STB 155 may describe which input/output ports to connect
for STB 155, AV devices 210, and/or television 145.
[0035] STB 155 may next perform the automatic loopback testing (act
440). STB 155 may perform the testing by generating one or more
video clips or test patterns. The video clips or test patterns may
include, for instance, color bars, detailed images, or color
saturated images. The video clips or test patterns may be input to
one or more of AV devices 210 and the output of one or more of the
AV devices 210 may be input back to STB 155 in a loopback
configuration. STB 155 may analyze the signal that enters STB 155
to determine the quality of the signal. STB 155 may, for example,
use image and video processing techniques to analyze the color,
image sharpness, and other attributes of the signal. Interlaced
video signal processing tasks, such as decoding, de-interlacing,
motion correction, noise reduction, and detail enhancement may also
be evaluated. The analysis may include a comparison of the original
video signal transmitted from STB 155 to the loopback version of
the video signal received by STB 155. Based on this analysis, STB
155 may determine the quality of the video signal and may also
determine, given the AV devices 210 that are in use, whether the
video signal could potentially be improved.
[0036] Based on the results of the testing performed in block 440,
STB 155 may determine that the signal can be improved. STB 155 may
then either report the result of the testing to the user or, in
some implementations, automatically adjust the user's equipment
(block 450). For example, the results may be reported to the user
via television 145 or through an external interface, such as by
transmitting the results to one of servers 120, which may then make
the results available through a web connection. In one
implementation, if enabled by AV device 210, STB 155 may
automatically adjust configuration options for AV device 210 to
adjust the quality of the video signal. In some instances, the user
may be notified of the automatic adjustments via information
provided on television 145. In some implementations, the user may
be asked to approve the adjustments before they are made. In other
implementations, STB 155 may internally adjust the video signal
output from STB 155 to attempt to compensate for AV device 210. In
still other implementations, STB 155 may provide, through
television 145, recommendations to the user or an installation
technician, who may then manually adjust AV devices 210 and/or
television 145.
[0037] The operations of blocks 440 and 450 may be iteratively
performed until a satisfactory video signal is achieved. For
instance, STB 155 may analyze the video signal automatically,
adjust settings in AV devices 210, and then query the user to
verify that the signal has improved. The process may be repeated
until the user is satisfied.
[0038] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary audio/video
equipment for which STB 155 performs automatic loopback testing. As
shown in FIG. 5, assume that a user's audio/video equipment
includes a STB 505, an audio/video receiver 510, and a HD
television 515.
[0039] STB 505 may include a number of input and output ports, such
as a coaxial video input port 506, an external HDMI
(High-Definition Multimedia Interface) video output port 507, and
an HDMI video input port 508. Coaxial video input port 506 may be
designed to connect to the output of gateway 150. STB 505 may
process the raw video signal received at port 506 to generate, for
example, a high definition digital video signal. STB 155 may output
the high definition digital video signal at output port 507.
[0040] In this example, the user has connected audio/video receiver
510 to the output of port 507. Audio/video receiver 510 may also
include a number of input and output ports. For instance, as shown,
audio/video receiver 510 may include a video input port 511 and two
video output ports 512 and 513. Although in this example ports 511
through 513 are labeled as HDMI ports, it can be appreciated that
other types of ports, such as DVI (digital video interface) ports,
could alternatively be used.
[0041] Output port 512 of audio/video receiver 510 may be connected
back to STB 505 to form a loopback connection. In this manner,
video output from STB 505 will be processed by audio/video receiver
510 before being transmitted back to STB 505. The user may connect
the output of port 512 to STB 505 (e.g., to port 508) in response
to a prompt from STB 505 requesting that STB 505 be setup in a
loopback configuration with audio/video receiver 510. As shown in
FIG. 5, another output port from audio/video receiver, output port
513, may be connected to television 515, potentially allowing the
user to view the video signal being tested. The second connection
to television 515 may, however, not be necessary for performance of
the loopback test.
[0042] As previously mentioned, when STB 505 is performing the
loopback testing (block 440), STB 505 may output one or more known
video test patterns to audio/video receiver 510. STB 505 may then
analyze the video signal received back from audio/video receiver
510. STB 505 may, for instance, use image and video processing
techniques to examine, for example, the color, image sharpness, and
other attributes of the video received from audio/video receiver
510. STB 505 may compare these attributes to an expected "optimal"
version of the video signal. Parameters of STB 505, audio/video
receiver 510, and television 515 may then potentially be adjusted
to improve the video signal.
[0043] Referring back to FIG. 4, assume that the user chooses to
perform the user subjective test sequence (block 420). In this
case, STB 505 may generate a series of test patterns and ask the
user to evaluate each pattern (blocks 460 and 470). For example,
STB 505 may generate an image including different color vertical
bars and ask the user to rate the color uniformity and edge
sharpness of each bar. Other possible test patterns include,
without limitation, waving flags, images with a lot of detail, or
color saturated images. In some implementations, STB 505 may adjust
the next pattern in the series of test patterns based on the user
evaluations.
[0044] As an example of blocks 460 and 470, assume, in FIG. 5, that
STB 505 generates a test pattern at video output port 507. The
video signal, after processing by audio/video equipment (e.g.,
audio/video receiver 510) in the path of the video signal, may be
displayed on television 515. The user may then evaluate the signal
based on the criteria provided by the user interface of STB 505 and
provide feedback via, for example, text input or other input. The
feedback may be provided, for instance, through user interaction
with STB 505 with a remote.
[0045] Blocks 460 and 470 may be repeated for a number of different
patterns (block 480). Different patterns may be designed to test
different aspects of the displayed video signal.
[0046] The result of the testing may be displayed to the user or,
in some implementations, used to automatically adjust STB 155, AV
devices 210, and/or television 145 (block 490). For instance, if
enabled by AV devices 210, STB 155 may automatically adjust
configuration options for AV devices 210 to adjust the quality of
the video signal. In other implementations, STB 155 may internally
adjust the video signal output from STB 155 to attempt to
compensate for AV devices 210. In still other implementations, STB
155 may provide, through television 145, recommendations to the
user, who may then manually adjust AV devices 210 or television
145.
[0047] The foregoing description of implementations provides
illustration, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
implementations to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and
variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be
acquired from practice of the teachings.
[0048] In addition, while a series of blocks and/or acts have been
described with regard to the process illustrated in FIG. 4, the
order of the acts and/or blocks may be modified in other
implementations. Further, non-dependent acts may be performed in
parallel.
[0049] It will be apparent that aspects described herein may be
implemented in many different forms of software, firmware, and
hardware in the implementations illustrated in the figures. The
actual software code or specialized control hardware used to
implement aspects does not limit the invention. Thus, the operation
and behavior of the aspects were described without reference to the
specific software code--it being understood that software and
control hardware can be designed to implement the aspects based on
the description herein.
[0050] Even though particular combinations of features are recited
in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification, these
combinations are not intended to limit the invention. In fact, many
of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited
in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification.
[0051] No element, act, or instruction used in the present
application should be construed as critical or essential to the
implementations described herein unless explicitly described as
such. Also, as used herein, the article "a", "an", and "the" are
intended to include one or more items. Where only one item is
intended, the term "one" or similar language is used. Further, the
phrase "based on" is intended to mean "based, at least in part, on"
unless explicitly stated otherwise.
* * * * *